[AT] AT Digest, Vol 2, Issue 7

[Bob Straub]

If you need to put off the repair, I would recommend once temperatures in your area are above freezing, switch to pure water with no antifreeze.  The water can evaporate with warm operation, but the antifreeze will not, it just accumulates.  Maybe put a petcock in the drain plug so you can monitor how bad it is by draining a bit on a regular basis. If it gets really bad you will need to repair. 
 
You might also try some stop-leak to slow it down, I'm not generally a fan of it, but in a pinch it might help for a minor leak.
 
All engines get small amounts of  water in oil from condensation in periods of cold operation.  You often see it as white slimy stuff.  If I recall, the white color comes from  the water leaching out additives, but they go back in the oil once the water part evaporates.  
 
I recall from my days at Detroit Diesel that antifreeze in the oil was really rough on bearings.  Very risky to run with antifreeze in the oil.
 
As an interesting side note, historically locomotives with the old 2-stroke GM/EMD engines (567, 645& 710)  ran only water as a coolant + I believe some corrosion inhibitors.   Engines idled all winter or were drained if taken out of service.  In the winter time, if there was a failure and the engine had to be shut down in cold conditions, the water was pumped into the fuel tanks to avoid and environmental issues bu just drained on the tracks and separated out later.
 
Bob Straub
dieselbobLLC.com
 
In a message dated 3/13/2018 4:27:40 PM Eastern Standard Time, steveallen855 at centurytel.net writes:

 
 John,

Are you sure that it was antifreeze?

I can't say about the 4020, but my old A & B, need to have a little water drained from the crankcase and transmission every year, and it isn't coming from the cooling system. It isn't nearly as much since I have put them under roof, but they still manage to collect a small amount even so.

FWIW.

The "original" Steve Allen

----- Original Message -----
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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2018 18:42:35 -0400
From: John Hall <jtchall at nc.rr.com>

Haven't seen anything from ATIS in days. So here is a little something 
for you guys to ponder. Spring is upon us and needed to get the 4020 
Deere diesel serviced. I pulled the drain plug slowly and noticed 
antifreeze coming out instead of oil. I caught about 4-6 oz of 
antifreeze before it switched over to all oil. Pulled the pan and 
pressurized the coolant system. Number 6 has oil coming between the 
piston and sleeve--out side of sleeve looks dry (makes me think the 
orings on sleeves are OK). I have not had the engine hot and antifreeze 
is adequate, so I have no reason to suspect a crack. I really don't have 
time to do an in frame rebuild right now, just considering a head gasket 
replacement--should face head as soon as I can find someone who can. 
Supposedly this engine has weep holes in the side of the block, but I 
haven't found them. the block is a replacement from 79 or the very 
early 80's. I am not ruling out a in-fram rebuild, would just like to 
wait until next winter if I can.

Your thoughts?

John Hall

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